Franklin’s Flying Bookshop

Franklin loves stories. He wallows in them and reads them not just to himself but aloud to anyone happy to listen. In the case of Franklin that’s mice and bats, because Franklin is a dragon. He would like to find others to share the stories, but the people of the local village always run away. Until Franklin meets Luna whose love of story matches his and together they hatch an imaginative plan to win over the others. After all who could resist a flying bookshop?

Jen Campbell’s lyrical text that on occasion takes on the rhythms and rhymes of poetry carries the reader through.  There is no time wasted in describing Franklin or his situation; rather Campbell presents the reader with a word feast that opens the window to the imaginative riches of the story – and the pleasures of sharing.  The words themselves are vivid and could stand alone. However, here there is the added dimension of Katie Harnett’s illustrations which bring colour, humour and personalities to the pages (even the mice). Lively and engaging they complement Campbell’s imagination and provide the reader with an experience that marries word and picture to create a thoroughly satisfying experience.